Idell H. Johnson, 84

Idell H. Johnson, 84, died Dec. 8, 2009, at Whitefish. Idell was born in Missoula on Nov. 8, 1925, to Harry and Ida Jones; she attended Paxson Grade School and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1943. Idell was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missoula. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert C. Johnson, on May 12, 1944. Idell was an active member of Missoula Women s Bowling Association for 30 years, serving five years as president and five years as treasurer. She was elected to the Missoula Bowling Association Hall of Fame for meritorious service. She enjoyed many years of league bowling and the many fun tournament trips with team members. She organized the Bitterroot 600 Club and served as their president for several years. Besides bowling, she also enjoyed golf, knitting and crossword puzzles. She and her husband of 65 years enjoyed weekends at Flathead Lake golfing with friends from Missoula and Polson. The often elusive hole-in-one was made by Idell on a very rainy day in September 2000 on the Whitefish Golf Course. Idell and Bob danced many a night to the big band sounds of Glenn Miller and took many weekend dates to enjoy their passion of playing golf. They resided in Missoula until Bob s retirement in 1985 and moved to Whitefish, where they continued to golf and bowl. Idell was preceded in death by her parents; and her best friend and sister, Dorothy McLaughlin. Surviving her are her husband, Bob; son, Doug, and wife, Cyndi, and their three children, Jarrod, Alyssa and Ashley; sister-in-law, Delores Criswell, and husband, Ted, and their children, Steve Criswell and Lucy, and Julie Ulrich and Ron. She is also survived by a niece, Susan Anderson, and her children, Michela and Erik; and nephew, Gary McLaughlin, and wife, Dixie. Memorials may be made to the Alice Ritzman Golf Tournament, which will provide an award in Idell s name for Top Female Youth Golfer. This will be awarded to schools throughout the Flathead Valley every year; donations may be made at the Whitefish Credit Union under Idell s name. Idell s family will host a gathering to receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish.